Commerce Secretary Lutnick Confirms 2012 Visit to Epstein Island Amid Resignation Calls
Key Facts
- Howard Lutnick confirmed visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s island on December 23, 2012, for a one-hour lunch.
- Lutnick previously claimed to have cut ties with Epstein in 2005.
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 50,000 points for the first time in February 2026.
- The DOJ unredacted Les Wexner’s name from a 2019 FBI document listing potential co-conspirators.
- Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have called for Lutnick’s resignation.
- The Epstein Files Transparency Act has resulted in the release of 3.5 million documents.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces bipartisan calls for his resignation after testifying Tuesday that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012. The testimony, delivered before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, contradicts Lutnick’s previous assertions to Congress that he severed ties with the convicted sex offender in 2005. Lutnick stated the visit occurred during a family vacation and lasted approximately one hour, noting his wife, four children, and nannies were present. Internal Department of Justice documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act confirmed the visit took place on December 23, 2012, four years after Epstein’s first conviction.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s support for the Commerce Secretary during a Tuesday briefing, describing him as a "very important member" of the administration. When questioned repeatedly about Lutnick’s ties to Epstein, Leavitt redirected the briefing to highlight administration policy achievements, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassing 50,000 points and a federal appeals court ruling upholding the administration’s migrant detention policy. The briefing, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, concluded after Leavitt criticized the media for focusing on the Epstein files over economic and security data.
The revelations regarding Lutnick are part of a broader release of 3.5 million pages of Department of Justice records. These documents have also identified billionaire Les Wexner as a potential "co-conspirator" in a 2019 FBI document, though Wexner’s legal representatives stated he was never a target of the investigation. Additionally, emails from the cache suggest Epstein attempted to facilitate a relationship between Kimbal Musk and a woman in Epstein’s circle between 2012 and 2013. Musk has denied that Epstein introduced the pair, stating his only meeting with Epstein occurred in a New York office.
Historical Context
The ongoing document release is mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump in November 2025. The law followed bipartisan criticism of a previous joint FBI-DOJ memo that claimed no further evidence existed to warrant investigations against uncharged third parties.
Perspective Analysis
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